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Patrimonial Marks: Resurrecting the Art of the Kahuna Ka Uhi

Updated on July 31, 2018

Chris Pinard

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My principal interests mall roughly the folklore, impost, chronicle, and mythology of the Celts, the Germanic speechmaking peoples, and the Slavs.

Touch Writer

Facial Tattoo of a Occupant of Easterly Island

Otzi the Iceman

Tattooing is one of the earlier art forms known to man. Due to the antiquated nature of this slyness, and the divided nature of the man circumstance, the preponderance of this general impost is graspable. So, historic examples can be placed from the Tarim watershed in Chinaware to the Alps in Europe, and amongst the islands of the S Peaceable. It is hither in Polynesia where we breakthrough the descent of the countersign tattoo, beingness derived from the Tahitian “Tatau” rendered “Ka’kau” in the Hawaiian lyric.

Ascertained in the Alps in September of 1991, Otzi the iceman is amongst the earlier examples of tattooing. The coarse quick-frozen elements of the mountains helped continue not just the personify of Otzi, but besides the tattoos that were rendered in his hide. Scholars get dated Otzi to a flow ‘tween 3400-3100 BCE. Picayune can be collected from his 61 markings. Yet, it has been renowned that nigh of the dots agree to known stylostixis points. Thence, it is potential that they may in fact present a typewrite of checkup tattoo. Support this fact, the lines and dots incline to clump approximately the country of the lour rachis and joints. Examiners suffer set that Otzi was woe from reefer and spinal problems, so it is fairish to reason that these tattoos may birth been marker areas that helped assuage his painfulness. Spell the demonstrate is circumstantial that these tattoos interpret a aesculapian diagnosing or discourse for his ailments, no early plausible theories get been minded.

Often foster Eastward in the Tarim basinful in Chinaware, figures with tattoos deliver emerged from the windswept defect. Although, these mummies deliver plant themselves caught in political agitation. The area where they were institute is unsound politically, which led to the Chinese governing withholding cogitation on the mummies for many days. This hullabaloo was exacerbated by the fact that the mummies appeared to be Caucasoid in nature, frequently exhibiting red pilus. In 2007 and 2009 the regime allowed for farther examination to be conducted, which corroborated the long-held opinion that the mummies were in share Caucasoid, likewise as Siberian. The tattoos application the mummies were wide-ranging. Animals are among the virtually big forms accepted, a cervid existence the about iconic. The flair in which they were constructed is remindful of posterior Scythian conception. Daydream tattoos are base on the brass of a distaff and sun tattoos on a manly ma. It is potential that these designs may be spiritual in nature, as in many cultures the lunation is seen as a womanly immortal and the sun as masculine, so this appellation could piddle feel. Yet, it isn’t sealed. Spell the Indo-Europeans of southerly descent attended see the daydream as womanly and sun as masculine, the circumpolar peoples (Including Germanic speechmaking multitude) attended purview the precise opponent to be genuine. Still, disregardless of this naming a spiritual portion to these tattoos is probably.

Tattoo Marks on Otzi

Journeying to Hawaii

Piece the humans isn’t the like as it was thousands of eld ago when Ozi the Iceman and the mass of the Tarim washstand were live, the art of tattooing has endured. Tattooing has evolved with the centuries, and near artists now use tattoo guns, yet the traditional methods silence last in diverse parts of the earth. In a silence box of Oahu (the busybodied island) of Hawaii, is a recourse of this custom and ceremonial. Cradled in a cocoon of yield carriage trees and plants, is the dwelling of Keli’iokalani (Keli’i) Makua, a traditional tattooing practician. Hither, impost of the Hawaiian by live done the hallowed art of tattooing. Had he lived in Scandinavia k geezerhood ago he mightiness sustain been false for an Odinic build, (a delegacy of the one-eyed god). A big darkness tattoo adorns the are some his remaining eye, bountiful an show not unalike from historical depictions of Odin, which is not insupportable considering share of his filiation hails from Europe. Keli’i standard this tattoo to insure that his Hawaiian ancestors would realise him, as this was a traditional mark. Makua studied nether his cousin-german Keone Nunes (another man synonymous with the autochthonal Hawaiian tattooing custom) for 20 eld. Below Keone’s guardianship, Keli’i perfected his trade. Astern eld of inscription, Keli’i was inducted in an ūniki (calibrate) observance as the kickoff Kahuna Ka Uhi (priest/practician of the tattooing art) in 200 days. This kinsfolk has singlehandedly helped to resuscitate the antediluvian art of tattooing which care a dry riverbed remained inactive for approximately meter.

The travel hither was not interpreted gently. Spell the independent intellect in climax to Hawaii was to chatter phratry, a warm petty reasonableness was to essay out Keli’i or Keone to potentially incur a tattoo in a traditional dash. I believe the tattoos I welcome as existence a testimonial of my spirit, my experiences, and the kinship I birth with the cleric. Consequently, the tattoo itself and the outgrowth of beingness tattooed is a ghostlike see. This was something that I institute mirrored in the art that Keli’i practices. Inside his hereditary custom everything has a rite. Keli’i wakes former in the daybreak to say whimper (prayers) to wake his tools when preparing to tattoo somebody. Additionally, he calls upon the ancestors of the person receiving the tattoo to be confront. All of the actions he takes to devise for the tattooing serve suffer a significance and determination.

Vintage Map of Hawaii

Constructing a Tattoo

The operation of tattooing is called Kakau in Hawaiian, which breaks pile into two branch lyric, Ka “to strike” and Kau “to post upon”. This watchword is etymologically related the Tahitian watchword Tatau from which the English intelligence tattoo is derived. The Uhi, (the tattoo itself) is seen as an identifier or score that can draw condition, place, kinsfolk inception, formation, aumakua (transmissible protector booze in beast cast), etcetera. Uhi may likewise imply coating or hide, which is an seize condition considering that other colonizers oft mistook the tattoos for stockings of okay framework. Many designs are traditionally reserved for particular phratry lines (Kapu), consequently perusal one’s genealogy (mo’o kū’auhau) is imperative. The tools he uses are a far cry from the electrical guns that live almost tattooing studios therein innovative humans. Kinda, Keli’i uses traditional handcrafted instruments, which he has made himself. Apiece of which has been constructed from forest and drum. They resemble a horticulture slant, or modest coxcomb affixed to a spliff. They are called mōlī. This setup is lordotic in ink (pa’u) made from Kukui-nut ash and tapped with a hahau (rod or tapping pecker) in gild to thrust the tegument and produce the uhi.

Keli’i is nigh associate with the imagination and patterns exploited in the tattooing practices of his ethnical ancestors (Hawaiian/Polynesians). Nevertheless, in approach hither I was hoping that he power view tattooing a traditional Norse innovation on me. This motive was fountainhead known from Scandinavian mythology and archeology, and would sustain been fellow to my cultural forbearers. Withal, this was a tattoo that I let been dream approximately for rather around metre. It corporate early patterns park in Norwegian weaving traditions. Tattooing was not stranger amongst the Norse. An Arab chronicler by the epithet of Ibn Fadlan wrote of the Rus (Norse Settlers and traders) that they had bodies as grandiloquent as escort palms, and they were tattooed from “fingernails to neck” with designs of trees and figures in a navy or viridity ink. Thither has been about hypothesis on what this tattoo description could imply. Many advocator for the opinion that the shoetree designs are in fact grayback patterns that the Norse became renowned for. Another hypothesis is that these trees were in fact sculptured off of Yggdrasil (the Norse corner of liveliness). I don’t see either possibility as existence contradictory, as the greyback patterns could easy get been derived from other depictions of Yggdrasil. Additionally, the early figures that Ibn Fadlan attests to could potentially be exchangeable to designs launch on rune-stones end-to-end Scandinavia.

Norse Tapis

Confluence Keli’i

Our commencement confluence with Keli’i took office in his chiliad where we “talked story” (a local condition for treatment or chatting). We had the gain of existence greeted by Li’i (a discover that substance pocket-size), a ovalbumin terrier mix who patch senior silence has nerve. Erstwhile we approached Keli’i he reached onward affecting noses and exchanging intimation with both of us. This traditional Hawaiian customs was obscure to Skipper Fudge and his crowd when they get-go came to these islands, so they frequently rejected the affectionateness organism disposed to them freely. Thus, they were called Ha’ole (a acceptation “without breath”, a condition which finally evolved into a moderately derogative figure that exists tod). We were besides introduced to various daughters, and the parents of Keli’i, all of whom were tender and welcoming. We fatigued respective hours talk with Keli’i’s forefather approximately cars, genealogy, and his memories of him development up in Colorado. The conversation returned to Keli’i yet.

I did not only presume that Keli’i would tattoo me, although I was hoping he would conceive it. He and his cousin-german Keone are selective on who they tattoo and the substance that they volition tattoo. During this kickoff confluence we ne’er abroach the matter of tattooing. Sooner, we conversed on topics ranging from stream events, derivation, faith, and custom. I was astonished at the similarities ‘tween traditional Norse cultivation and the custom of the endemic Hawaiians. Promptly the sun washy and the daydream rosebush as we continued to talking. But the nighttime weighed big upon our eyelids and it came clock to farewell. Terminated the following hebdomad, we were capable to sit and blab with Keli’i on respective occasions. One of the kickoff qualities I noticed was that he is an super lowly man, but good of wiseness and unsounded perceptivity. Therein style, he really extends advice and cognition to those in pauperization, often ilk a priest. Confluence with him was consanguine to session with an learned sage-green. We could expend geezerhood talk with him and scarce scar the airfoil of his encyclopedism and born philosophic profundity. I was rosy adequate to be capable to glimpse done his broad library of books on traditional Polynesian faith, impost, and art. It was a trove for those scholastically fain.

Polynesian (Maori) Facial Tattoo

Decease of the Art

Skipper Falsify was among the low to land password from the Polynesian Islands, notification of the aboriginal tattooing traditions, which were seen by the Christian elect of Europe as a mannikin of savagery. Nevertheless, it was the sketches of Lavatory Webber that vividly captured the tattoos and transmissible the cognition of these patterns to the reality. Afterward references to these markings can be establish in the Ke Au Okoa (a Hawaiian speech paper combat-ready in the tardy 1800’s). In the April 1870’s paper one finds note of a Maui boss and warrior Kahekili who had covered his consistency on one english cap-a-pie in markings (kākau pa‘ele). Such was the large venerate that Hawaiians had for their tattooing custom, that they secondhand them to openly exhibit their emotions. In the 1820’s Fagot Kamamalu had her clapper tattooed as an act of idolatry and bereft when her mother-in-law passed by. When interviewed by missioner William Ellis on the botheration she was receiving from beingness tattooed she declared: “He eha nui no, he nui roa ra ku’u aroha” translated as “my botheration is gravid, but greater is my affection”. Still, spell the custom was hard, this art came some demise out altogether. Christian missionaries efficaciously outlaw the exercise by 1900, so too was the Hawaiian lyric and faith. In roughly role of the islands, tattooing belike lived on done into the 1920’s ahead it hide into neglect. Nevertheless, Keli’i and his cousin-german Keone Nunes were hearing to their relatives and teachers who had firsthand accounts with those who had been tattooed in the traditional way. It is done hearing to their ancestors and community elders that noesis of the exercise was preserved. Finally it was this noesis that was secondhand to regenerate the custom.

Skipper Fake Instance

Encyclopedism From Keli’i

Tattooing was an art that had a sanctified portion. Frequently the tattoos that individual would incur had Kaona (secret meanings). Kaona as a terminus which besides way to hide and much victimised to refer the concealed signification of poesy. This reminded me of the Norse impost of victimisation kennings in verse (an art manikin extremely highly-developed by the skalds which would veil various layers of import in a poem). Truthful to configuration, the tattoo I had seen in my dreams contained substance in the patterns that others would not realise, patterns that my ancestors would deliver known and created. If I had standard a tattoo with content of any former civilisation it would sole let been trivial for me as it would not sustain had the astuteness of import and the ethnic persistence.

Keli’i went on to discover how a traditional refinement observance may be conducted, including elements such as the salinity of Konoloa (sea saltiness), the vitalizing waters of Kane (freshwater), and the tea (a engraft associated with replacement and life-force). He farther explained that if a Kahuna travelled inland, he would payoff sea-salt with him, so that he mightiness be able-bodied to behavior the ceremonial wheresoever he went.

Keli’i is a testimonial to the fact that Hawaiian cultivation is not drained, preferably, it lives on done its mass, who are active and easily. Still, they clutch selection, upright as all autochthonic multitude do. Which reminds me that everyone is autochthonal to someplace and that with increased levels of globalisation we all expression a standardised menace with respects to preserving traditional custom. The annexation of ethnical elements is an on-going trouble therein truehearted paced reality. Many individuals aegir for joining to something, anything, bequeath clutch at Polynesian designing tightly without evening well-educated what the figure is or where it originates. Sometimes tattoos are sexuality particular, and those warm to develop a tattoo may ulterior uncovering that it was not capture for them. Thence why Keli’i is selective with his clients and what he chooses to tattoo. Existence that this is such a nuanced endeavour the tattoos that one receives from Keli’i cannot be obtained elsewhere.

Keli’i invited us to informant another somebody receiving their uhi (crisscross) the pursual day. This was genuinely an observe, as it enabled us to get a immobile compass on what would be occurrence if and when we too mightiness invite our tattoos. The adjacent aurora, we arrived, and the tools cursorily came out. Abaft promptly having lines worn upon him the receiver set pile on a mat. Medicine danced in the desktop piece Keli’i inclined. Shortly the tattooing serve began. The rhythmical nature of the tapping was plenty to put one in a musing nation. Metre seemed to toss rapidly piece observation this function, and presently it was accomplished. The tattoo was big, extending from hip ankle, and it emitted a sentience of authorisation.

Man From the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii)

Bathroom Webber Instance 1784

Discussions on Location and Pregnant

Afterwards the tattoo was realized, an Ava (differently known as Kavakava) observance was conducted. Ava is a base that comes from a works in the piperaceae. An extract is made by winning the beginning pulverise and filtering irrigate done it. The beverage is a whitish consistence with a firm gross savour. Kamea, (an learner of Keli’i’s) began qualification the ava. Therein blood, apprentices ofttimes aid in qualification tools, stretch the tegument, and course devising the ava. Presently the swallow was consumed by those nowadays. Promptly it began to benumb the national of my lip and imparted a sentience of repose. Subsequently, piece talk with Keli’i, he discussed how dissimilar parts of the soundbox were traditionally reserved for especial significance with respects to tattooing. A leg tattoo was normally the low tattoo an person would incur, as this was an individual’s founding. It would talk to the lineage of the node. Whether it was situated on the leftover or rightfulness leg depended on whether it was “a masculine or womanly thing” in his quarrel. The patterns put-upon would severalise a storey, oftentimes big a optical theatrical of which island that the ancestors of the single receiving the tattoo came from. Transmissible names may likewise carry fodder for the figure of the tattoo. Yet, the expression of a tattoo is an art configuration. Thither was no one sizing fits all scenario for a tattoo receiver. The days of preparation that Keli’i standard allows him to read the info gained in genealogic inquiry with acquisition. To exemplify this item, two siblings would not obtain the like leg tattoo innovation level if they were twins and portion the like genetics. This is due to the fact that one’s makeup besides plays a considerable function in how Keli’i interprets the entropy and afterwards constructs the tattoo innovation. Circumstance is everything. Something as dim-witted as a trilateral formula may get two or tercet unlike meanings based upon its twist. Otc tattoos are earned, with around beingness bestowed as a ritual of passageway. In a earth where well-nigh everything can be bought with plenty money, I apprize the fact that Keli’i and Keone silence clench sure truths to be deserving more a pecuniary design. Sealed tattoos are alone seize to be raddled by the families they were primitively designated for. The persona of the tattooing priest (Kahuna kā uhi) is not a situation Keli’i takes thinly, he says “we were the alone ones who could tie bloodline from the ali’i (transmissible rulers) without the aftermath of beingness execute.” Hence, Keli’i reasons that the place he holds is consecrated, in which thither is a smell of tariff, laurels, and duty. The implications of this conversation stillness tarriance in my judgment were temporarily halted by the offering of a repast from Keli’i’s wife. His phratry was ardent and inviting, sincerely personifying the ciao intent. The nutrient was traditional, consisting of many local delicacies. All of which were yummy

Other Example of Tattoos on a Hawaiian Char’s Weaponry

Jacques Arago 1819

Grandness of Genealogy

Those receiving a tattoo from Keli’i volition belike get dissimilar prescriptions on acts to do earlier they can incur a tattoo. Ofttimes this may admit genealogic survey if one is not already conversant with their bloodline. Fast or abstaining from intoxicant and piquant nutrient is much compulsory (as they were in my pillowcase). Over-the-counter requirements may interject the manakin of praying, inner process resolution excited harm or exonerative misdeeds. Additionally, about cognition of one’s traditional impost and refinement are powerfully encouraged. This is all apprehensible when one recognizes that receiving the Uhi (scratch) is a hallowed intimacy. As with nearly things sanctified, they mustiness be cultured and earned. Workings for and towards such an try bolsters the mana which animates the tattoo, and brings one into greater connector with kinsfolk, community, and finally the godly. These patrimonial connections get been significant to me since my juvenility. At the age of 12 I started my womb-to-tomb romance with genealogy, http://edubirdie.org/edubirdie-review-the-most-honest-and-reliable finally doing exercise for others, serving them breakthrough their own hereditary connections. Keli’i could easy bear sour devour my bespeak to tattoo me. I plainly did not experience if the exercise I had undertaken had inclined me adequate to be considered. Keli’i hadn’t known me farseeing, so I didn’t recognize if the feat I had situated into the sketch of my own derivation and inheritance was something that he would see evidenced in the fiddling clock we got to cognise one another. To experience an Uhi is to get a adherence bad ‘tween one’s by, salute, and futurity. It is not dissimilar a map directional us done the dimensions of who we are, where we cum from, and finally our circumstances. This joining is not sole secured done the forcible demonstration of the uhi, but is preferably an congeries of religious commitment and maturation, too as careful reflexion on transmissible association and the fortitude to germinate into one’s possible. Finally, I asked Keli’i if he would regard tattooing me, and I presented him with a fundamental figure that manifested in my dreams months anterior. Additionally, I showed him many traditional Norse patterns from where ancestors originated, potentially bountiful him options from which to retrace the bigger pattern. My asking was standard favourably and he agreed thereto. In the intent of the traditional customs of how a tattoo was granted, I gave him as often exemption as potential in which to manufacture it.

Tattooed Hawaiian Head

Jacques Arago (ND)

Receiving the Tattoo

The day shortly came for me to be pronounced. Regrettably, we were greeted with sad intelligence, Li’i had passed out. I mutely aforementioned a petition for him, memory the terrier that upright a few years ago showed so practically aliveness. I am certainly he patiently awaits Keli’i in the bang-up bey.

I am not a fledgeling to tattoos, having standard quatern others already. Still, this tattooing receive was exceptional. We arrived betimes to the tattooing studio backside Keli’i’s firm. Having get at such an minute, he had not yet ruined his daybreak offerings. We were capable to looker him alimentation the ava to the designated stones in his pace. Again, this reminded me of alike custom among the Norse, both cultures organism animist had an apprehension that everything has an indwelling intent. Shortly he returned and the tattooing procedure could start. The unharmed observance of receiving the tattoo not lonesome made me esteem my ancestors, but I matte a greater sentience of connective to them done the operation. Keli’i drew a few unproblematic lines upon my dorsum as a guidepost, the rule already having been imbedded in his head where he intuitively knew where to billet the convention. I presently rested on the lauhala mat and my knowingness drifted to thoughts on how this was a custom that has existed for millennia, with multitudes having undertaken this precise receive in age bygone by. The tapping presently began, and piece the nuisance was detectable, it was far less than what one feels with a tattoo gun. Apiece tap seemed to birth sissiness and yet an intensiveness thereto, made with design. I wasn’t surely how foresighted my tattoo would fancy manufacture, as it was heavy and elaborate. Nevertheless, the day cursorily flew by and I was surprised to suffer dozed off for a few proceedings in the midriff of receiving my scrape. The audio had so echoed in my head, finally big way to whispers from hereditary liquor. Piece I bequeath not break the contents of aforesaid daydream, it was brawny and firm with emotion. I take that crying welled up as I awoke. It was as if the tattoo called to yearn departed folk. It brought latent emotion to the rise. I am incertain if this is a traditional customs, but when receiving the tattoo, I offered my botheration capable my ancestors as a give. It was meet so that the invention too contained elements of hereditary connector. So, it was not surprising what I experient. The Uhi itself requires hurting as requital for its introduction. Keli’i had mentioned in conversation that mana (vigour) is imbued into the tattoo done the traditional method. This is an component of the customs where he empowers (ho’omana) the soul receiving the tattoo. Patch it mightiness be psychosomatic, thither were multiplication, peculiarly when organism tapped on the pricker when I was certain I could feeling that I was receiving it. Advance, Keli’i had declared that the mana that he applies assists in evoking onward signification and design in the tattoo. Afterwards coating the scrape, he again made the Ava. This clip I could try Keli’i tone patch devising it. The row flowed onward with sentence. The ava numbed and relaxed me.

Awa (Kavakava)

Close Reflections

Our meter with Keli’i and his folk finally drew to a closing. I sat in contemplation. In many shipway, this journeying was one of self-discovery and transmutation. I have a scar that changed me physically, still the interior modification was more fundamental. Every day since receiving this uhi, I closure and entertain my ancestors barely a picayune bit more and reckon myself prestigious that Keli’i was unforced to arrive. Thousands of my ancestors remained dictated to render a bettor living for me as one of their posterity. I am crushed to convey such a scratch that they would realise. I owe them a debt to suit bettor than what I am. Ultimately, the tattoo is me, it is my blood, and my see in animation.

In the weeks since the tattooing, I smell calmer and more departed with sprightliness. In a way, the operation made me yearn to resuscitate a custom which sure formerly existed among my ancestors (the Norse) erst, but lamentably bleached afterward the Christianization procedure. I cognize of many patterns and designs that would be adjustment of such a custom. Notwithstanding, such aborigine tools and processes bear farsighted since died out. Yet, visions of victimization yew (a warm yet slenderly flexile woodwind seems to outcry from the recesses of my brain, request to be made into a tapping instrumentate not too dissimilar from the mōli Keli’i secondhand). Alternatively of the lauhala mat, a caribou fell, with seahorse or boar detusk helping as the off-white for the dentition of the mōli same instrumentate. Unluckily, thousands of miles break us from Oahu. Differently it unfeignedly would be a prerogative to discipline below Keli’I if such an alternative were uncommitted.

Albeit such a brusk hitch, our cognition of tattooing impost and Polynesian cultivation was protracted denary. Keli’i is genuinely a professional of his art. More good receiving tattoos we besides flavor as if we made a champion.

If you are concerned in acquiring a traditional tattoo and compliments to impinging Keli’i, you can situate him near well on Instagram nether the figure kelii_makua.

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